FY 2026 HUD SAFMR Hardee +12% vs US

ZIP HUD FMR profile

33873 Wauchula, FL Fair Market Rent

FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR for ZIP 33873 (Hardee County, FL). ZIP-specific schedule - not county-wide FMR, not current asking rent.

$1,070
1-bedroom SAFMR / mo
+12%
vs US average
$42,800
Income needed (30% rule)

Wauchula, FL — Hardee. Population: 14,742 (Census). FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR.

How this rate was derived: HUD publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents at the ZIP code level for designated metros. ZIP 33873 uses the FY 2026 SAFMR for Hardee County, FL ($1,070 1BR). The county-wide FMR schedule for Hardee may differ; this page prefers the ZIP-specific SAFMR. Apartments may rent above or below FMR, which is HUD's 40th-percentile gross-rent estimate, not live asking rent.

The displayed HUD FMR for ZIP 33873 (Wauchula) is 12% above the national average and 17% below the state average. A 1-bedroom benchmark is $1,070/mo compared to $959 nationally. Source: HUD Small Area FMR. You need at least $42,800/year to afford a 1-bedroom at this FMR (30% rule).

What the FMR for ZIP 33873 actually means

HUD publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents at the ZIP code level for designated metros. ZIP 33873 (Wauchula, FL) is covered by Hardee County, FL, so FY 2026 figures here are ZIP-specific: $1,070 for a 1-bedroom, studio $1,060, 2-bedroom $1,250, 3-bedroom $1,690, and 4-bedroom $2,100. These are 40th-percentile gross rents (utilities except telephone), not live asking rents. Housing Choice Voucher payment standards are typically set between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR/SAFMR.

Because this page uses SAFMR, nearby ZIPs in Hardee can show different bedroom figures. Against the national benchmark the 1-bedroom SAFMR here is 12% above the US average of $959, and 17% below the FL state average of $1,296.

For budgeting, the 30% affordability rule says rent should not exceed 30% of gross household income. At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,070, that implies a household income of $42,800 per year (about $3,567/month) to avoid being cost-burdened, a 2-bedroom at $1,250 lifts that threshold higher still. ZIP 33873 has a population of 14,742 residents, so the gap between these FMR figures and local wages shapes how many households qualify as rent-burdened (paying more than 30% of income) or severely burdened (above 50%).

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,212 · US avg: $893
$1,060/mo
↑ 35.4% YoY -13% vs state +19% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,296 · US avg: $959
$1,070/mo
↑ 35.8% YoY -17% vs state +12% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,526 · US avg: $1,175
$1,250/mo
↑ 24.6% YoY -18% vs state +6% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,971 · US avg: $1,525
$1,690/mo
↑ 26.6% YoY -14% vs state +11% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,261 · US avg: $1,756
$2,100/mo
↑ 56.7% YoY -7% vs state +20% vs US

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$42,800
$3,567/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$50,000
$4,167/month gross

County Information

ZIP 33873 is in Hardee. HUD sets Fair Market Rents at the county level, so all ZIP codes within Hardee share the same FMR.

Nearby ZIP Codes in Hardee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HUD Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 33873?
The FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR for a 1-bedroom in ZIP 33873 (Wauchula, FL) is $1,070 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,250 and a studio is $1,060. These are ZIP-level SAFMR figures from HUD for Hardee County, FL, not asking rents.
How does the FMR in 33873 compare to the national average?
The displayed 1-bedroom FMR for ZIP 33873 is 12% above the national average ($1,070 vs $959).
What income do I need to afford the FMR in 33873?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $42,800 to afford a 1-bedroom at the displayed HUD FMR in ZIP 33873 (Wauchula, FL).
What county is ZIP code 33873 in?
ZIP 33873 is in Hardee, FL. This page uses HUD's Small Area FMR for the ZIP (Hardee County, FL), which can differ from the county-wide FMR schedule.

Explore PlainRent

Data source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. ZIP-to-county mapping from U.S. Census Bureau. FMRs are set at the county or metro level; individual ZIP code rents may vary.